It is notoriously difficult for teen singing idols to maintain popularity as they mature--often they drift into total anonymity or appear only in "oldies" revues. These avenues have never appealed to Dion DiMucci, the Italian heartthrob of rock 'n' roll's formative years. Dion--with and without his group the Belmonts--scored a long string of pop hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s, earning millions before the British Invasion changed the face of the rock world. Once dismissed as a mere pop entertainer, Dion has earned the respect of critics for his musicianship, his honest lyrics, and his ability to sustain an audience well into middle age. Now in his 50s, he is still producing, writing, and singing new material.

In a Los Angeles Times review, Kathy Orloff finds much to praise in Dion's work. The critic writes: "His style is immediately identifiable and unique, his voice is strong and rich and profoundly pure. The sound is sensitive, tangible, full. His songs ... show him to be open, vulnerable, and yet somehow steady." The vulnerability in Dion's music stems from his years of struggle with drug addiction and his subsequent satisfaction at having kicked a heroin habit. The star who has always called himself "the Wanderer" told People magazine that in his teen-star years he was "Mr. Macho, yeah, but ... lost in a way.... Now [I'm] home."

Dion was born and raised in the Bronx, son of an itinerant puppeteer who was often unemployed. People reporter Steve Dougherty notes that the singer's father "was a disaster. He taught Dion to shop-lift and filled him with a lifelong sense of fear and insecurity." Dion grew up on the Bronx's mean streets, running with a gang and shooting heroin from his early teens. He hardly seemed a candidate for show business stardom, but he had two valuable assets that he learned to use: a beautiful singing voice and a cool, macho image that somehow suited rock 'n' roll music.

"The day I heard Hank Williams for the first time, my life changed," Dion told People. "Before that, music was boring.... Rock and roll didn't exist in my neighborhood before that. Hank was the dawn of creation for me." Dion was one of the millions of teens who embraced rock 'n' roll and its black counterpart, rhythm and blues. He began to spend evenings on street corners, singing a capella with several buddies. Dion was the first of the group to find his way into a recording studio, and with a group called the Tamberlanes he cut the single "The Chosen Few." When that song did well, he brought in his friends to back him up on his second single, "I Wonder Why." Soon they were traveling together as Dion and the Belmonts--named after Belmont Avenue in the Bronx.

While other groups of the period specialized in flashy dance routines, Dion and the Belmonts preferred to keep their stage show simple, almost a version of their street-corner doo-wopping. The group had a number of Top 40 hits between 1957 and 1960, including "No One Knows," "Don't Pity Me," "A Teenager in Love," and "A Lover's Prayer." Their most fateful appearance was certainly February 2, 1959, when they appeared in Clear Lake, Iowa on a program with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper. At the show's conclusion, Dion was asked to pitch in thirty-five dollars to charter a plane to the next concert site. He chose to travel in the bus instead, and thus was spared when the plane carrying Holly and Valens crashed in a cornfield.

Dion and the Belmonts parted ways with no animosity in 1960. Dion began a solo career and soon could lay claim to a number of Top 10 hits. After several modest successes he produced the multimillion seller "Runaround Sue" in 1961 and the equally successful "The Wanderer" the following year. Between 1962 and 1964 the singer placed numerous songs on the charts, including "Lovers Who Wander," "Born To Cry," "Little Diane," "Sandy," and "Come Go with Me." Then the Beatles and the Rolling Stones arrived in America, and the music of entertainers like Dion began to seem simplistic and old-fashioned.

"A lot of people thought the British thing [the Beatles, Stones, etc.] blew a lot of people away," Dion said in Where Have They Gone? Rock 'n' Roll Stars. "I don't remember it that way. It didn't knock me on the roadside. I remember stopping. It was a very conscious decision. It wasn't like anything overtook me." In fact, the singer was simply ready to explore new kinds of music, especially folk and blues. He disappeared from the concert scene and began performing at small halls in the Bronx again, practicing acoustic guitar until he became a master of the instrument. He also began to face the facts about his drug use, finally quitting heroin and alcohol in 1968.

That same year a new Dion emerged on the pop scene. The singer recorded a Dick Holler song, "Abraham, Martin and John," a folk tribute to three of the nation's slain leaders. The piece was an enormous success commercially, but more important, it accorded Dion more respect among critics. In the Rolling Stone Record Guide, Dave Marsh suggests that "Abraham, Martin and John" is "perhaps the best, and certainly the best received, protest song of all," adding that the album from which the single came "revealed enormous artistic growth." Dion followed this success with a powerful anti-drug song, "Clean up Your Own Back Yard."

Some critics feel that Dion's work in the 1970s was hampered by lack of vision on the part of his producers. As Marsh puts it, the singer was "trapped in the company's pop-rock production mill," with shoddy backup and lackluster promotion burying his albums. Dion found a new audience in the 1980s and early 1990s, however. A religious experience in 1979 gave him the incentive to apply his brand of soft rock to gospel music. "I used to think God only liked organ music," he told People, "but religion puts God in a box. From what I read in the Bible, God doesn't like religion. God talks about having a personal relationship with Him. I feel comfortable with that."

From his home base in Boca Raton, Florida, Dion continues to write and record soft-rock inspirational music. "There's a real enjoyment I get out of life today that I never had before," he told People. Dion is not a regular on the oldies revue circuit by any means. When he performs live, it is more likely to be fresh material from recent albums rather than just another tired rendition of "Runaround Sue." Still, the singer has not forgotten his roots, the excitement of rock 'n' roll that made him a music fan in the first place. He concluded in People: "I show rock and rollers how to grow old gracefully. I want to rock till I drop. I love rock and roll music. It keeps you young."

On Martin Luther king day. I found your live performance of Abraham, Martin and John, Iremebered it from childhood when I first heard it some 40 yrs ago. I fell in love with it then. I put it in my facebook as a tribute. It was nice to in some way share it with my friends on facebook and fitting to our friends abraham, martin and john. I love you Dion. you are my favorite singer. My soul touches heaven with your voice.

almost 10 years ago

I saw Dion perform on a Saturday at Trump Plaza this summer. Brought back memories when I was a teenager and use to hear him on the radio. On Sunday my husband and I met him at church. He sat right in back of us. What a pleasant surprise. I didn't know he had problems with drugs. I am glad that it's in his past. God Bless you Dion.

about 10 years ago

I was only sixteen when I first saw Dion performed in a club in NJ. I was too young to be there and got in with my sister's ID. I fell in love with the music that night and to this day I play his songs in my car. My favorte is a "Funny Little Feeling". I like some of his gospel tunes too. Rock on Dion...

over 10 years ago

I live in Colorado but was born in Upstate NY.
I just came back from the Bronx to take a subway test. My location, 187th & Crotona. Hallowed ground. An omen!

over 10 years ago

I am 48 years and was only two when you hit your peak in 1962. My little sister now 30 turned me on to you music -- she listens to the oldies station regular. Like you found people of other generations are picking up your music.
After getting use to your voice I've never heard anyone sing like the way you do: so crisp, clever, with feeling, and well frankly great skill and enormous variety.
I use to pride myself in thinking I can imitate all sorts of really talented artist, but you, are a mystery. As many have said, there will only ever be one Dion. You deserved your induction to the Hall of Fame--anyone who questions should just listen.

over 10 years ago

Just wanted to let you know that you are my favorite singer. I am 58 years old and since I was a young girl I listened to your music. I just love all your records, and continue to listen to them now.

over 11 years ago

I HAVE LOVED DION SINCE THE VERY FIRST TIME I EVER HEARD "DION & THE BELMONTS"! IM 62 AND I STILL LOVE HIM!!! I NEVER KNEW HE HAD A HEROIN ADICTION-BUT IM SO HAPPY TO KNOW HE OVER CAME THE PROBLEM & CONTINUED SINGING! DION, GOD BLESS YOUR HEART! YOU ARE TRULY THE GREATEST! EVER!!!!